- SQL (Structured Query Language) is the language of relational databases, and can be used by any relational database management system.
- SQL Server is a database management system.
There is standard SQL (also called ANSI SQL), which applies to any database management system. However, database management systems have their database-specific SQL in addition to the standard SQL. This introduces some complexity in using SQLs especially if you use many database management systems in your day to day work. It is like speaking many languages at the same time. You are bound to make a few language errors.
Reporting Services, Analysis Services... I wonder when I will start using these in MYSQL
ReplyDeleteNaseef, you can start using SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) anytime you buy the license - remember it is a commercial product from Microsoft. But also remember that for any commercial software, there is likely a host of opensource equivalents. It might be a matter of exploring.
ReplyDeleteFor example for reporting, you can use the opensource Jasper Reports or BIRT. They are excellent and have stood the test of time!
Are there any other versions that can be used with MySQL, ie - installs will .exe file, and run independently. I have realise that both the stated are Java based and may require a java IDE. Is that right?
ReplyDeleteNaseef, I am not sure I have quite got your requirement. But let me try to take a shot.
DeleteReports designed using Jasper Reports (or narrowed down to the designer iReports) or BIRT can actually be deployed in a simple html file and it will then be accessible over a network using a web browser. This is very useful because users on a network will then be able to access reports over the network.
These reporting tools may not necessarily require an IDE (and I hope you meant Integrated Development Environment such as Eclipse, NetBeans, etc).
It is true, for example, that BIRT is integrated in Eclipse, but that is not a requiremen,t and BIRT reports could in fact be designed using another interface other than Eclipse.
The iReport designer, for example, is very simple and installs easily in Windows. Clearly, it does not require an IDE.
I hope I have thrown some light.
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ReplyDeleteAnd let me add that all reporting tools use the same principle, because they are meant to do the same thing, although the approach and capabilities may be slightly different. This is true for all categories of software such as word-processors, spreadsheets, DBMS, etc.
ReplyDeleteIf you know how to use a certain DBMS for example, you will easily learn how to use another. Similarly, if you know how to use BIRT, you will easily learn to use Jasper Reports or SSRS or Crystal Reports.
In general, report design follows the same principles of database connections/data source, dataset (SQL or equivalent like HQL), report layout, deployment, etc – with a good touch of XML and some HTML. Perhaps the most important skill-set for reporting is SQL knowledge. The others are fairly as trivial as using Excel.